2024 UTME: Steer clear of fake websites, scammers, Police, JAMB warn candidates

As part of the efforts to protect unsuspecting candidates sitting the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) from falling victim to scammers, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigeria Police Force have synergised through the NPF National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to combat the menace.

 

The warning came on the heels of the series of fake websites being created by scammers purportedly for the printing of examination slips, and which their creators couched as emaniting from the Board to dupe unsuspecting candidates.

 

The two agencies, at a joint press conference held at the Force Headquarters on 13th April, 2024 warned that “Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates,” and urged candidates and parents not to fall victim of these unscrupulous elements.

 

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate their readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.

 

Continuing, he said: “We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide,” he said.

 

The NPF spokesman further underscored the dangers inherent in this fraudulent act stating that candidates’ personal details like email address, registration number and phone numbers are at risk and could be manipulated to distort the records of candidates, extort money from them at a later date often with bogus claims of outrageous scores as well as prevent candidates from even sitting the examination.

Candidates are advised to protect such personal details as exposing them has huge negative implications to the candidates. “Any candidate, who visits these fake sites, will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams as he/she risks disqualification.
“Candidates are advised to print their 2024 UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations.”
He also called on candidates to beware of websites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, noting that no body can access such materials.

He reiterated the order of the Inspector-General of Police to go after scammers and fraudsters, who engage in the creation of phishing sites/portals and other cyber-related crimes, with a view to serving as deterrents to others.

Similarly the Public Communications Advisor, JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in his contribution, pledged the Board’s commitment to continue in playing its role as a regulator and gateway to tertiary education in the country.

He, therefore, urged candidates to ignore any unsolicited messages noting that they were from elements who aim at defrauding candidates.